Improvement in railway-switch stands



R.A,RASH.

Railway Switch-Stands.

WITJWESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT (DEFI ROBERT A. RASH, OE PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALE HIS RIGHT TO TAPPEY 8v STEEL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-.SWITCH STANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,169, datedFebruary 3, 1874; application filed December22, 1873.

ence marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a railroadswitch stand which will prevent the liability of the switch being left open, or on the wrong side track7 as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. v

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring' to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my switchstand. Fig. 2 is aside elevation, and Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section, of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stand, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the slide.

A represents the stand, of any suitable dimensions, to which is pivoted the shifting-lever B. This lever is provided with a cap, C, to protect the parts from water and ice. D represents the lock. E is a slide, moving upon the shifting-lever B, and to which is attached the bolt a and tongue b. The stand A is provided with a flange, d, iii. which are three holes, e, f, and (1, to receive the bolt afin each position of the lever, or for each track, respectively.

The tongue b moves in a recess in the face of the cap C, so as to present an even surface with the inner part thereof, and is provided with a hole, h, which comes immediately opposite the lock-bolt i, and a corresponding hole in the cap C when the slide E is moved down in position.

The lock D is so constructed that the key cannot turn entirely around, and hence cannot be withdrawn, except when the bolt is out, or is locked.

Now, it will be seen that, when the shiftinglever B is brought over to either side of its central or proper position, the lock D cannot be locked, because the bolt z' will be against the face of the cap C, and, consequently, the key cannot be withdrawn.

It will also be observed that, when the slide E, with the bolt and tongue, is raised up, that portion of the tongueb which extends below the lock-bolt t' will then present an even surface, with no hole, which will prevent the locking and withdrawal otl the key, even in the center position on the main track, unless the bolt a be down in the hole. It must be set for the main track and bolted before the switchman can get his key.

When it is locked in the center position on the main track, the lo ck-bolt i passes through the tongue b, which prevents the slide E, with its bolt and tongue, from being raised up, while the bolt a, passing through the ange b, sustains the strain, and prevents the shifting movement of the lever.

The bolt a drops into the holes e or fin the flange d, to hold the lever in position while on the side tracks but, those positions being onlyT temporary, it does not require to be locked there.

The switchman does not leave the switch until he sets it on the main track, and gets his key.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the stand A, of the cap C, attached to the track-shifting lever B, and the slide E, with the bolt a and tongue b, having-hole hf, all constructed substantially as and for the purposes set forth.`

2. The combination of the stand A, with its ange cl, having holes o f g, the shifting-lever B7 cap C, slide E, with bolt a and tongue b, and the lock D, with bolt c', all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 27 th day of November, 1873.

ROBT. A. RASH.

Titnesses F. J. TAPPEY, ANTHONY HARRISON. 

